Lions, Tigers, Bears & Hippos Escape Zoo Damaged By Floods

Lions, tigers and even a hippopotamus have escaped from a zoo in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, adding to the chaos caused by flooding that has killed at least 12 people.

Police and soldiers were hunting down the animals, recapturing some and shooting others dead, while rescuers airlifted scores of people trapped by the floods on Sunday.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili called on Tbilisi residents to stay indoors while the animals were still at large, describing the damage to the city's infrastructure as "substantial" after the River Vere burst its banks after hours of torrential rain.

"Our latest estimate is that the death toll is 12," Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania said.

The mayor's office said dozens of families had been left without shelter and thousands without water and electricity in the city.

Several main roads were completely destroyed and small houses and cars were swept away by the torrents, while half a dozen coffins in a city cemetery were washed out of the ground and lay on the mud.

Foreign leaders have shown their support for Georgia over Twitter, including the President of neighbouring Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite.

Our thoughts are with the families of victims of the #Tbilisi flood. Wishing strength to #Georgia to overcome the disastrous consequences